Marvel’s LUKE CAGE is raising hell up in Harlem

In the 2nd trailer for Marvel Studios’ new Netflix series LUKE CAGE, we get an even better look at the cast of characters as well as the tone and style the series will have. One thing that comes across extremely well is the backdrop of Harlem which will give the story its urban boldness and panache. Luke Cage’s powers may be the result of some fantastic science experiment but the heart of the show will most definitely be about his close ties to friends and family and how he protects them from the evil forces operating out on the streets.

The first seven episodes of the series are named after Gang Starr songs (1. “Moment of Truth”, 2. “Code of the Streets”, 3.”Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?” 4. “Step in the Arena”, 5. “Just to Get a Rep”, 6. “Suckas Need Bodyguards”, 7. “Manifest”) so that alone gives you an idea of how much it is inspired by the world of hip hop and its impact on pop culture.

Jeph Loeb, executive producer/head of Marvel Television, described the series as “a fugitive story, a story of redemption … the hero’s journey”

Mike Colter noted it as having “soul” and “intensity”, compared to the “dark action” of Marvel’s Daredevil and the “noir feel” of Jessica Jones.

Executive Producer Cheo Hodari Coker comments on the show having “a powerful fusion of dark drama, hip-hop, and classic superhero action” while being “The Wire of Marvel television, because we really deal with a lot of different issues.”

Marvel Comics’ editor-in-chief Joe Quesada stated that, unlike Daredevil and Jessica Jones which featured a fictionalized version of Hell’s Kitchen that was more inline with how it was when the comics were first written, the Harlem of Luke Cage represents the Harlem of “today”, and is truer to the real-life modern New York.

We can’t wait to be introduced to this new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The complete LUKE CAGE series premieres on Netflix September 30th.